South Asian Media Press Release – HUHY Campaign
NHS ‘Help Us, Help You’ campaign urges public to get cancer symptoms checked
South Asian health care professionals are backing a major new campaign urging anyone concerned about cancer to get checked and to keep routine appointments, as new research found that even now, nearly half (48%) of the public would delay or not seek medical help at all.
A fifth (22%) would not want to be a burden on the health service while a similar number said that fear of getting coronavirus or passing it onto others was a major reason for not getting help. More than four in ten people would leave it longer to get health advice than they normally would have before the coronavirus outbreak, however delaying can have serious consequences for some cancers.
NHS staff have pulled out all the stops to keep cancer services going throughout the pandemic, with almost one million people referred for checks or starting treatment since the virus took hold. Community and faith-based organisations such as British Association of Physicians of Indian Origins, Asian Women Cancer Group, and Sikh Council UK recently met with members of the NHS and PHE teams to discuss the campaign and the need to urge members of the South Asian community to utilise NHS services.
Also present at the meeting was Dr Anant Sachdev, CRUK GP and TVCA Clinical Lead Prevention & Early Diagnosis, said “It’s important to note the NHS is there to
provide you support and help, safely. Great measures have been placed to ensure those who do not have Covid have access to important services.
“Invitations for breast, bowel or cervical screening are also vital, as cancer is easier to treat when it’s caught at an earlier stage, so please don’t delay – coming forward for a check-up could save your life.”
NHS services have put a range of measures in place so that people can be treated safely throughout the pandemic including Covid protected cancer surgery hubs, a Covid friendly drugs fund which means fewer trips to hospital and chemotherapy being delivered in more convenient locations.
Symptoms of cancer include:
Changes in bowel habits, including blood
Unexplained weight loss
A lump
Persistent bloating
Pain that does not go away
For more information about using NHS services during coronavirus, visit
nhs.uk/yourhealthmatters
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